Sherman's Security Blog
I am Sherman Hand. (also known as Policysup) I have created this blog and will use a part of my day to write about what is going on in the world. I hope to discuss things in a down to earth and practical way. I hope to hear back from you on your thoughts. I do not in any way intend to speak for my employer. The content of this blog will be either opinions that are strictly mine, general observations,re posts, or information that is already in the public domain.

In a space that continues to fill up with competition from small startups and incumbents alike, Spotify is trying to acquire as many new users as possible with the launch of a 50 percent discount for college students.

The discount takes Spotify’s premium $10 subscription and slashes it in half, as long as the user is registered in any four-year, two-year or junior college in the country. SheetID will verify that these subscribers are, in fact, enrolled in school.

The idea here is to grab new users as quickly as possible, and worry about the money later. And eventually, without a doubt, Spotify will have to worry about the money.

Streaming music is an expensive business, which is why so many of these apps and services struggle to make money. Another reason they struggle is that big boys like Spotify and Pandora have already won over a major chunk of the audience.

This isn’t the first time that Spotify has tried to make its service more affordable and attractive to potential users. In December, Spotify announced a free internet radio-type product called Shuffle for smartphones, and opened up full, free access on Android tablets.

But even with the discounts and the free products, it’s a tough world out there for a streaming music startup. Even one valued at $4 billion.

Students interested in taking advantage of the discount can sign up here.